William baldwin



(ModeL) W. BALDWIN.

WASH BENCH AND WRINGER HOLDER.

No. 391,933. Patented Oct. 30, 1888.

lllnirrn TATES NVILLIAM BALD'WIN, OF CUYLER, NEW YORK WASH-BENCH ANDWRINGER HGLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,933, dated October310, 1888.

Application filed April 12, 1888. Serial No. 270,433. (Modem T0 aZZ whomit may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ouy= ler, in the county of Cortland and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nash-Benches andW'ringer- Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use thesame.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved folding structureto serve as a washbench and wringer-holder, the same affording anabsolutely firm support and occupying the least possible space when notin use.

To this end myinvention consists in the construction and combination ofparts hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofthe entire structure embodying my invention in condition for use. Fig.2represents a similar view of the same when folded for stowing away.Fig. 3 represents a view of the cap-piece and guiderods detached fromthe rest of the structure. Fig. 4: represents in detail perspective oneof the shelf-sections.

A designates the cap-piece, which is horizontal and provided with araised rib, a, for convenience ingrasping it. At the ends of said capbroad ears a extend downward. Pivots I) pass through these, serving forthe attachment to each of said ears of a pair of supporting-legs, B, thepivots passing through the upper ends of said legs. Each leg isconnected by cross-bars or rungs B B to the corresponding leg attachedto the other car a. The four legs and their cross-bars thus constitutetwo sectional frames, folding toward each other and opening into theposition shown in Fig. 1.

The upper cross-bars or rungs, B, serve as supports and pivots for twobench-sections, O, which are connected together by hinges c and providedwith overlapping inwardly-extending arms 0, the ends 0 of the arms a ofone section fitting within the corresponding ends 0 of the arms 0' ofthe other section when the shelf is let down into horizontal position.Each benchsection is slatted, leaving openings 0' for water to passthrough. At their meeting inner ends they are recessed to formguide-holes d, which fit on guide-rods D, that extend rigidly downwardfrom cappiece A.

As the pivot cross'bars B are in line with the sections 0 when these arein horizontal position, said sections effectually look the legs Bagainst inward motion on their pivots until the ends of said sectionsare raised or their hinges pressed downward. As the weight of thewash-tubs and other articles will bemainly outside of the pivotal linesof saidlegs, the downward pressure of these articles will only serve tohold the structure as a whole more firmly in the position of Fig. l. Theends 0' of the arms 0 of each section 0 extend under one or more of theslats of the other section to form mutual braces.

When there is no longer any present use for the wash-bench andwringerholder, it islifted and the middle part of the sectional shelfbent down so as to slide along the guide-rods, either by a pull orpressure on the hinges or b lifting the outer ends of sections 0, thismotion simultaneously drawing together the pivoted frame-sections madeup of the legs B and their cross-bars. This operation will befacilitated by inclining the structure toward one side, in order thatthe weight of the remainder of the frame may aid in folding it. It isrestored to the operative position shown in Fig. l by merely drawing theframe-sections apart. A slight pull on one leg of each pair will dothis.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A pair of shelf-sections hingedtogether and provided with arms extending inwardly from each sectionunder the other, in combination with pivoted frame-sections to whichsaid shelf-sections are pivoted, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. The cap .pieee A, having downwardlyextending ears a and guiderods D,rigid therewith, in combination with legs B, piv- In testimony whereofIaffix my signatnrein oted to said ears, cross bars B B connectingpresence of two witnesses. said legs in pairs to form frame-sections,

and shelf sections O, pivoted on the upper XVILLIAM BALDWIN cross-bars,B, and connected by hinges opening upwardly, said shelf-sections beingre- Witnesses:

eessed to move on said rods, substantially as JOHN W. SUGGETT,

set forth. L. P. HOLLENBEOK,

